Hate- and bias-motivated incidents have spiked since the election of Donald Trump. Between November 9 and November 14, the Southern Poverty Law Center collected 437 reports of hateful intimidation and harassment, including hate speech, publicly drawn swastikas, and forced removal of hijabs. In the last 10 days, the Council on American-Islamic Relations has recorded 111 incidents specifically targeting Muslims, most often against women wearing hijabs.
In response, Chicago-based behavioral therapist Zaineb “Zee” Abdulla developed a “Hate Crime Defense Seminar” designed for Muslim women. With the help of Misho Ceko, the head instructor at Chicago Mixed Martial Arts, Abdulla designed moves for defending against strangers grabbing a headscarf. The tactics are based on Brazilian jiu jitsu techniques.
This move is for fending off people grabbing your hijab from the front:
This move is for fighting a hijab grab from behind:
Islamophobic activity in America has been rising for years. The FBI reported 257 assaults, attacks on mosques, and other anti-Muslim hate crimes in 2015 (67 percent more than in 2014).
(Also see: Using jiu jitsu to combat mental illness)
Likewise, self-defense classes for scarf-wearing Muslim women—whose more visible religious identity leaves them bearing the brunt of this violence—are nothing new. But they are growing in the wake of Trump’s election.
“In this post-election hate crime spike, self-defense is more important than ever,” Abdulla said on her Facebook page. “Practice … until it becomes muscle memory and teach your body to react before thinking.”
In addition to Abdulla’s seminar, the Women’s Initiative for Self Improvement, which toured its anti-hate crime classes around the country this year, is ramping up its own anti-hate crime self-defense event programming. WISE is hosting a class in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Saturday and one in Queens, New York, on Sunday. You can find future events here.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.